Warm-up match details confirmed ahead of October’s white-ball series featuring Bangladesh and New Zealand
New Zealand will warm-up for next month’s T20I series against Australia with the annual Governor-General’s XI match in Sydney.
The White Ferns will meet the GG’s XI at North Sydney Oval on Thursday, October 15, ahead of the first of three 20-over internationals at the same venue from October 18.
With NZ led by skipper Amelia Kerr, the match will offer a look at the White Ferns’ new era following the retirements of three greats of the game – Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu – at the end of the T20 World Cup in July.
The Governor-General’s XI squad will be confirmed closer to the match but can be expected to be made up of a mixture of up-and-coming talent and experienced players from around the country.
“Being selected in the Governor-General’s XI is a special honour and an opportunity that players genuinely value,” Cricket Australia’s Head of Performance and National Selector Shawn Flegler said in a statement.
“The match is an ideal opportunity for players to build valuable match practice ahead of the T20I series, while also giving emerging talent the chance to impress against quality international opposition.
“We’re excited to work alongside the Governor-General to select a Governor-General’s XI that reflects the quality and significance of this match.”
In recent years, the GG’s match has been held in the lead-up to a major multi-format series in January or February. With it scheduled at the start of the season in 2026-27, the game will coincide with the T20 Spring Challenge – the domestic T20 tournament that runs ahead of the Weber WBBL, featuring all eight clubs alongside the ACT – meaning the vast majority of the country’s contracted female players will be in Sydney.
For the third consecutive summer, the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, will lead the GG’s XI which, as per tradition, will feature a player from the Australian Defence Force.
Lieutenant Meera Hyderabad, a wicketkeeper-batter and Artillery Officer in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, has been confirmed to take part in this season’s fixture.
The GG’s XI match is a free, non-ticketed event and will be broadcast live on Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will play a warm-up fixture ahead of their three-game ODI series against Australia.
They will meet a Queensland XI at Norths on October 6, ahead of the first one-dayer at Allan Border Field on October 9.